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Gary Cookson

@garycookson.bsky.social
565 followers 723 following 219 posts

The Final Boss of Modern Work | Author | Leadership & Modern Work Expert | Hybrid & Future of Work Specialist | HR / OD / L&D Leader | Speaker | Director at EPIC | Father of 4, Husband of 1

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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
Today my latest book, The Squeezed Middle, is published. It’s about people most organisations rely on but rarely talk about properly: middle managers. They translate strategy into reality. They manage pressure from above & expectations from below. They hold teams together if things get messy. 1/
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
Pleased to have featured on the latest episode of Learning Now TV, being interviewed by Lisa Minogue-White about the role of middle managers in the modern world of work and how we can develop the right attributes for success. Catch it here: learningnow.tv/watch/progra...
learningnow.tv
Learning Now TV - live-streamed internet television channel
Learning Now TV is a live-streamed internet TV channel bringing you the latest L&D news,views and issues.
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 14/12/2025
My LinkedIn account has been hacked. Please disregard anything that comes from it whilst I work to have it restored.
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Daniel Taylor - Learning and Development @danielt-lnd.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
It’s the launch of #AdventBlogs with the theme of “its time to change”. Our first blog comes from @garycookson.bsky.social, who I took over the curation of #AdventBlogs from, so its only right that he gets us started. www.danieltaylordevelopment.com/blog/the-wor...
linkedin.com
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
Please get involved in this wonderful series of #AdventBlogs
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Mark Gilroy @thatmarkgilroy.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
Here’s a video summary of @garycookson.bsky.social’s awesome session on hybrid work. www.linkedin.com/posts/mgilro... #T5S4 #LT25uk
linkedin.com
#hybridwork #futureofwork #leadership #organisationalculture… | Mark Gilroy
🏢 Hybrid working isn’t working—or is it? Gary Cookson shared a LOT of information in this session, including some research from 4 months ago, which demonstrates: it’s not the office that’s the proble...
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
Sharing my views on how AI helps organisations to transform their approach to hybrid working and potentially to redesigning the working week. www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1914... With thanks to Eleanor Whitehouse for commissioning me to write this for People Management.
peoplemanagement.co.uk
AI holds the key to making hybrid work and improving working patterns
Artificial intelligence could open up better flexibility for more people – if employers decide how they want to use it and define the problem they want it to solve, argues Gary Cookson
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 23/04/2025
Headed to #LT25uk shortly for a day and a half. Unbelievably it’s my first time attending. Looking forward to catching up with so many people, and speaking on three occasions (twice at the Kogan Page stand, and once in the main conference). Please come and say hello if you see me.
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
Happy birthday to my beautiful wife Katie xxx
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Mark Catchlove @markcatchlove.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
𝗝𝗢𝗜𝗡 𝗨𝗦 𝗢𝗡 𝗪𝗘𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬 Hybrid working isn’t working. Organisations regularly get it wrong, causing frustration and rising tensions in the workplace. In this session Gary Cookson will examine why this is, where hybrid has come from and where it is going www.eventbrite.com/e/hybrid-isn...
eventbrite.com
Hybrid isn’t working - but we can fix it
Key considerations organisations and their leaders need to make in order to get hybrid working
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Tim Glowa @timglowa.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
Hybrid work isn’t failing—leadership is. In this episode of The State of Work Today podcast, Gary Cookson (@garycookson.bsky.social) explains why the five-day workweek is outdated, how AI can transform HR, and what it takes to lead hybrid teams effectively. 1/2
hrbrain.ai
Making Hybrid Work, Work: The Future of Leadership, Culture, and AI
Summary: Hybrid work isn’t failing—leadership is. In this episode of The State of Work Today podcast, Gary Cookson explains why the five-day workweek is outdated, how AI can transform HR, and what it ...
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Tim Glowa @timglowa.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
If your company is struggling with productivity, culture, or engagement, this episode has the answers. Listen now: pod.fo/e/2bb037 #Leadership #HybridWork #WorkplaceCulture #FutureOfWork #AI 2/2 (end)
pod.fo
#30 - Making Hybrid Work, Work – with Gary Cookson
The State of Work Today · Episode
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Tim Glowa @timglowa.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
Missed yesterday’s State of Work Today podcast? You need to catch up. Gary Cookson joined me to talk about how companies are failing at hybrid work—and what they need to fix. One of his biggest insights? Hybrid work isn’t the problem—bad leadership is. 1/2
pod.fo
#30 - Making Hybrid Work, Work – with Gary Cookson
The State of Work Today · Episode
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 19/03/2025
Really enjoyed taking part in this podcast
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
Have you read Making Hybrid Working Work? If so, would you please leave me an Amazon review? www.amazon.co.uk/review/creat... Thank you in advance.
amazon.co.uk
Amazon Sign In
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
People are messing me about with my book research and it’s making me mad. They offer to help and then ghost me or, worse, try to sell me something.
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4 Day Week Foundation @4dayweek.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
Congratulations to @garycookson.bsky.social for becoming a Gold Standard 4-day week employer!🥳🥳 Epic HR have made it their mission to help businesses adapt, evolve and excel. It’s clear they’ve applied the same goals to their own business by implementing a 4-day week! 🙌
Epic HR logo with a 4-day week employer badge
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
Pleased to have added my thoughts to this piece by Islam Soliman in People Management magazine on data that shows hybrid working and flexibility in general boosts women's (and by extension all working parents) career progression. What are your views? www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1909...
peoplemanagement.co.uk
Majority of women say hybrid work boosts their career progression, study shows
Research finds flexible working is nearly twice as valued as parental leave, with most women prioritising it over family-focused policies
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 04/03/2025
Remembering Pancake Day in 2018 when I travelled 1st class on Virgin Trains and was so disappointed they didn’t serve pancakes that I tweeted them to moan. Several days later a pancake maker arrived by post, courtesy of Virgin Trains.
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 03/03/2025
Really pleased to be invited onto the OrgDev podcast hosted by Dani Bacon & Garin Rouch. It publishes today - find it wherever you get your podcasts, plus YouTube. We had a great time recording this, - I loved sharing my thoughts on how to make hybrid working work. www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F6o...
youtube.com
Hybrid Work Leadership Essentials for Success | Gary Cookson | OrgDev Podcast #59
YouTube video by Garin & Dani - Distinction Consulting
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
Pleased to have added my thoughts to this piece in People Mgt on whether the trend for “micro-retirements” has merit. TL:DR - yes but you need enormous piles of money to do it more than once, or be prepared to work longer. Would you be attracted to it? www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1908...
peoplemanagement.co.uk
Micro-retirements: social media fad or the future of work?
As the trend takes off on TikTok, People Management asks if it is here to stay and how employers should respond
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
Wondering if replying to a request from People Management for comments on a particular topic is ideally done after three-quarters of a bottle of wine. We'll find out. I will report back tomorrow.
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
I really hate INSET days
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
Pleased to announce EPIC is now a Gold Accredited Four-Day Week organisation. We have been four-days for 3 years - it works well. So much has been learnt. I spend part of my time helping organisations to consider what the working week looks like for them. Interested to know more? Message me.
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
Really pleased to have been a guest on Tim Hughes #TimTalks podcast talking about themes from my book Making Hybrid Working Work. Catch it here: youtu.be/D3CX8lFpd7Q
youtu.be
#TimTalk – Making hybrid working work with Gary Cookson
YouTube video by Timothy Hughes
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 20/02/2025
Pleased to have added my thoughts to this article by Islam Soliman in People Management magazine on whether younger workers are lazy for not wanting to commute to an office every day. Link in Comments.
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
It wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day unless Katie had made some kind of threat to my continued existence, and reminded me how lucky I am to have her, and made exciting future plans with me, all in the same sentence. Still, though, I love her. Happy Valentine’s Day to my wife. XXX
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 08/02/2025
What?
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
I've been invited via a cold email onto a Women in Leadership course, as the sender feels that it would benefit me on my career journey to being a great female leader. I wonder what would happen if I accepted the invite?
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
Pleased to have added my thoughts to this article by Islam Soliman in People Management magazine commenting on President Trump’s plans to offer severance packages to US Federal Government employees who don’t work to return to the office. www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1904...
peoplemanagement.co.uk
Trump proposes 'deferred resignation' for federal workers who refuse office mandate – what are the key lessons for HR?
As US president offers exit payout for public officials unwilling to return, People Management explores the challenges the move presents
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
Pleased to have added my thoughts to this piece by Dan Cave in HR magazine (first time in YEARS!) on the barriers to making a four-day working week a reality. www.hrmagazine.co.uk/content/news...
hrmagazine.co.uk
How can employers implement a four-day week? - HR Magazine
Two hundred UK companies have signed up to implement a permanent four-day week for all employees at full pay, according to the latest 4 Day Week Foundation data.
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Pleased to see an extract from Making Hybrid Working Work feature in Chartered Management Institute's Insights page focusing on new skills needed for managers in a hybrid working organisation. www.managers.org.uk/knowledge-an... #MakingHybridWorkingWork
managers.org.uk
Feeling ‘squeezed’ by hybrid working?
The skills you need to add to your hybrid working skill set: from being open to change to listening to what the data says…
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
Today is the US publication day of Making Hybrid Working Work. It is leading to some great conversations already - the debate about hybrid doesn't seem to be going away given recent pronouncements by Donald Trump and Elon Musk. If hybrid isn't working, who ya gonna call? #MakingHybridWorkingWork
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
Did you watch Panorama last night on remote and hybrid working? What did you think?
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 18/01/2025
Our neighbours still have their outside Christmas lights up and turned on and it is driving me mad
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 16/01/2025
Someone shared their (UK) mobile number with me in a message and it was in the format 07xx-xx-xxxxx. I have only ever seen mobile numbers in 07xxx-xxxxxx format and this has thrown me.
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 13/01/2025
Today marks the end of the 14th series of the #AdventBlogs - my 6th and final series as curator. Today's #AdventBlogs post is from me. One last post... epichr.co.uk/2025/01/13/a...
epichr.co.uk
#AdventBlogs - I let you go - Epic HR
Today we reach the end of the 14th series of the #AdventBlogs. It has been my 6th and final series as Curator, so this is both my post for the series and a farewell post. The series will resume later ...
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 12/01/2025
In today's penultimate #AdventBlogs post of the series, @mparryslater.bsky.social reflects on whether she really wanted to move to Australia. epichr.co.uk/2025/01/12/a...
epichr.co.uk
#AdventBlogs - I didn't want to leave - Epic HR
This is our penultimate post of the series, and the first time I’m scheduling a post in 2025. I have today announced on social media when the series will end, so you’re only reading this a few days la...
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
33 years ago and I am not over this.
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
In today’s #AdventBlogs post Kate Jenkinson is happier where she is. epichr.co.uk/2025/01/11/a...
epichr.co.uk
#AdventBlogs - I don't want to go back - Epic HR
We are fast approaching the end of our series and we have two posts left. It is still 2024 as I type this, New Year’s Eve in fact, but well into January for you and I am pleased that the series has go...
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
In today's #AdventBlogs post @clarehaynes.bsky.social reflects on playing the violin. epichr.co.uk/2025/01/10/a...
epichr.co.uk
#AdventBlogs - A bit orchestrated - Epic HR
My announcement of the imminent deadline had the predicted effect and lots of posts have been received in the days leading up to that deadline. The deadline has now passed though and we are into our l...
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
In today’s #AdventBlogs post @sharongchiara.bsky.social remembers her neighbour. epichr.co.uk/2025/01/09/a...
epichr.co.uk
#AdventBlogs - I did not want to go - Epic HR
Strange to think that a few days ago I thought our series might only get to 2nd January, and here we are on 9th January. Nothing like a deadline to get people writing. The end is definitely near now t...
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
The current series of the #AdventBlogs will conclude on Sunday unless any further posts are received. In the final post I’ll say my own goodbyes to the series and those who have read and contributed to it.
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
In today’s #AdventBlogs post @valentinahynes.bsky.social shares one of her family traditions. epichr.co.uk/2025/01/08/a...
epichr.co.uk
#AdventBlogs - Tradition - Epic HR
As I thought might happen, the announcement of the imminent ending of this series has prompted a few more posts. I do still suspect we are very close to ending, and I will of course announce if we rea...
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 07/01/2025
Thanks to editor Eleanor Whitehouse for publishing this piece for me in People Management magazine on trends in the world of work for 2025 and how leaders should respond. www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1901...
peoplemanagement.co.uk
The future of work: how leaders can stay ahead in 2025
Gary Cookson explores key trends that will shape businesses this year and beyond – and how bosses should react to them
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 07/01/2025
In today’s #AdventBlogs post Claire Ingle is having fun. epichr.co.uk/2025/01/07/a...
epichr.co.uk
#AdventBlogs - I don't want to go because I'm enjoying myself - Epic HR
I didn’t think our series would get this far, but I’m immensely pleased that it has. We are within a few days of finishing though – unless, as sometimes happens, people see that declaration and get wr...
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 06/01/2025
In today’s #AdventBlogs post Bina Briggs reflects that it’ll turn out well in the end. epichr.co.uk/2025/01/06/a... Nb posting time of socials back to normal from tomorrow
epichr.co.uk
#AdventBlogs - It will work out in the end - Epic HR
Our series is approaching its end and we have but a handful of posts left. If you want the series to continue and haven’t already sent a post over, you have maybe 2 days to do that. Today at home, we ...
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 05/01/2025
In today’s #AdventBlogs post Dawn Smedley remembers her Dad. epichr.co.uk/2025/01/05/a...
epichr.co.uk
#AdventBlogs - If I ever have to leave - Epic HR
Our series continues into its sixth week but we are getting closer to the end. As usual though as soon as I tell people that, there is a flurry of posts. This is one of three that arrived within the s...
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 04/01/2025
In today’s #AdventBlogs post @liorlocher.bsky.social discusses tipping points. epichr.co.uk/2025/01/04/a...
epichr.co.uk
#AdventBlogs - Flip into action - Epic HR
This marks the end of our fifth week of the series, and we will get at least some way into a sixth. This is really encouraging for the future of this series. There is still some time left to send a pi...
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Gary Cookson @garycookson.bsky.social · 03/01/2025
Today Making Hybrid Working Work is published, so it’s a special day for me. It’s been a long time coming. If you read it - thank you - I’d love to know what you think. Message me or leave me a review. #MakingHybridWorkingWork www.amazon.co.uk/Making-Hybri...
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